ARC-VICTOR MODEL 720 (1940)

The ARC-Victor model 720 was manufactured for Associated Radio Co. by Collier & Beale Ltd in 1940.

Other radios based on the same chassis:

6 valve, with magic-eye tuning, dual wave radio.

This cabinet (manufactured by G. C. Goode in Auckland) has been sighted with various different sets fitted to it - here are two different American models that were likely imported as just bare chassis' and fitted to this cabinet on arrival in NZ, a Midwest model 10A has also been seen in it.

Gulbransen Teledial & General Electric A87(?)
Gulbransen Teledial & General Electric A87(?)

Technical Information

Valves (6 + magic eye):
6D6, 6A7, 6D6, 6B7, 42, 80 and 6U5 Magic Eye (some early variants)
6K7G, 6K8, 6K7G, 6B8G, 6F6G, 5Y3G and 6U5 Magic Eye
Also seen (possibly 722 variant lineup):
6U7G, 6K8, 6U7G, 6B6G, 6F6G, 80 and 6U5 Magic Eye

Intermediate Frequency: 465kc/s

Frequency Bands: 2

Chassis Notes(most schematics can be clicked to download a full size version)

Service documentation for the model 720, held by the NZVRS, contains a note (possibly by John Stokes) stating that the model 722 is almost identical except for minor valve changes.

Gulbransen model 720 'Corona'

Gulbransen model 720 'Corona'

Gulbransen model 720 'Corona'

General Construction Notes for Collier & Beale Ltd:

Model numbering followed no real sensible scheme until around 1940 - and prior to 1934 apparently no model numbers were assigned at all.

From 1940 a 3- or 4-digit system was employed where the first digit indicates the number of valves, the second digit is the number of bands and the third is the year of manufacture.  From 1950 the last digit became two digits, eg: 5151 is a 5-valve broadcast-band only from 1951.

From 1957 model numbers were replaced with model names, ie the Pacemaker Buffalo - which makes the year of manufacture hard to determine unless service info is consulted (although C&B often released service info after the radio, and the date on the service info was for its release, not that of the model.

Other documented models using this chassis (5 in total)

YEARMODEL NAME
1940 Gulbransen model 720 'Corona'
1942 Gulbransen model 722
1942 Cromwell model 722
1942 Cromwell model 722 'Skipper'